You can either dine-in, which includes their delicious hot tea, or take out. The family that owns it were all very friendly and nice and the food tastes wonderful, the fact that they make everything fresh is apparent. You can watch them cook your food because the woks and the grills are all behind the counter and you can even see the whole chickens hanging from hooks.

Well, my friend and I placed our orders and we were pleased to discover that they allowed for substitutions. A good thing, since my companion does not like egg rolls. They were kind enough to give him a fried dumpling instead.

Hong Kong Menu’s lunch specials are superb..superb, I say! And, if you really want to know why, then listen to this. Not only do you get a meal in huge and heaping portions, but they also include pork-fried rice (for which white rice can be substituted) and also an egg roll or a fried dumpling.

Their lunch specials all vary in price but range from $3.95 to $4.95. I ordered their General Tso’s Chicken for $4.75 and it was remarkable. Served ‘to go’ in a large container, about ¾ of it was filled with delicious fried rice that was seasoned to perfection and not clumpy at all. (They also have seven different kinds of fried rice such as vegetable, beef, shrimp, roast pork and my personal favorite, chicken.) The sauce, chicken and vegetables were delicious and so fresh tasting. We also ordered their pork fried rice which was enough to fill three plates and was only $3.95 for the small. I can’t imagine what the large would be like! They surely did not skimp out on the pork, green onions, or bean sprouts.

My companion’s chicken and vegetables with the steamed rice substitution was loaded with chicken along with carrots, broccoli, celery, bamboo shoots, and snow peas. If you’re in search of something healthy to eat, and you like to keep the food tasty, that dish would work for you. We also ordered sweet and sour chicken, another of my personal favorites. This was definitely a meal for two and consisted of the traditional rice smothered in the chicken with that unmistakable bright orange sauce, onions, green peppers and an occasional pineapple. The sauce was so good, being not too sweet and not too sour, and oh so delicious.

We decided to give a couple of their soups a try also, and stuck to the small size, but once again the small wasn’t so small. Which was okay by me because I like my food cheap and they give me more than my money’s worth. Even I can’t complain. The wonton soup had huge pieces of noodles and tasted homemade. I was told that it works just as well as chicken soup to help a cold. Hmmm… I don’t know if Betty likes that idea because I make a pretty mean chicken soup, but I’m always open.

Not often do I have such a difficult time deciding what to eat as I did at Plaza Grill. The ladies and I were not limited to just the cheeseburger, turkey sandwich, and barbecue sandwich to remain under $5; EVERYTHING on the menu is under $5! Burgers, sandwiches, subs, salads, soups, sides, and specials—all under $5! Just the thought makes me nostalgic for the good ‘ole days when life was good and lunch was cheap.

Much to our surprise, our food was brought to us. My friends’ sandwiches (one had a cheeseburger and the other a barbecue sandwich) came with lightly crisped french fries, while my turkey sandwich came with potato chips and sweet pickles on a toothpick. On the cheeseburger were red onions, tomatoes, mayonnaise, and lettuce, and was allegedly “succulent and juicy.” The fabulous taste spoke for itself. Once I took the tomatoes off my turkey sandwich, it tasted delightful as well. As for the barbecue, “it tastes homemade” was my lunch partner’s claim as she was wiping the sauce off her mouth. That must mean it was good. Each of our delicious meals came with twenty-ounce sodas as well. And, all for a grand total under $15!

But, the best deal of all is the specials, which vary weekly. The week we graced the Plaza Grill with our presence, you could enjoy: a beef barbecue sandwich with fries and a large drink for $4.25; a smoked sausage sandwich with grilled onions and green peppers and topped with American cheese, with chips and a large drink for $3.75; a turkey Reuben sandwich (turkey and 1000 island dressing) with chips and a large drink for $4.50; or a whopping 1/3 pound cheeseburger with the works and fries and a drink for $4.50. You just simply can’t beat that in a million years.

The relaxing aura of Plaza Grill can’t be beaten either. The dining room is quite large, yet not a single empty space is wasted. Even near the restrooms, something extraordinary caught my eye. Three framed certificates hang proudly on the wall for outstanding police work (the co-owner is a retired state trooper, you see). On the walls of the dining room itself hang numerous framed pictures of various foods (I guess to stimulate your subconscious taste buds). The ladies and I especially liked the flowered tablecloths that add a country diner feel to the surroundings. And, to add a little personal touch to our lunch, the owners even signed our check, “Rena & Bill”.

Thank goodness there are still good people out there. If you’d like to share in my delight, visit Plaza Grill in the Hoover Plaza, Lemoyne. For take-out orders, call 763-6845. They’ll even fax you a menu. Don’t let an expensive lunch ruin your day. Take it from me, Betty. Give Plaza Grill a try.